October 20, 2020
Advocacy for prison libraries in Pakistan
By Abid Hussain
https://pakobserver.net/advocacy-for-prison-libraries-in-pakistan/#
OXFORD Learner Dictionary defines prison as “a building where people are kept
as a punishment for a crime they have committed, or while they are waiting for
trial”. The Jail is correctional institutions for the people who have committed
crimes and are waiting for court trials. The prison is a place where offenders are
corrected with punishment and hard labour. Initially, prisoners were provided
religious books for readings like Quran, Bible, Torah, Gospel, etc.
There was no leisure time for prisoners in jails. Different library associations in
the world came forward and raised their voices for prison libraries such as
American Prison Association, International Federation of Library Association,
American Library Association and American Correctional Association etc. Many
reforms like American Library Association’s Bill of Right, the freedom to view,
the freedom to read, guidelines for library usages, British guideline for prison
libraries were initiated. Reforms at global level have been made, but in Pakistan,
there is no concept of prison libraries and are worst than other developing
countries.
Prisoners are humans and have the equal rights to read and get useful education
like other humans in society. A person who does not have an access to right
information regarded as directionless, clueless, and visionless. Libraries are the
symbol of freedom for entire community inclusively prisoners. Attitude of
prisoners can be changed through mosque and other religious institutions, library
is the place, where they can forget their sorrows by reading fascinating and
informative books.
The prime purpose of prison library is to educate the offenders/criminals. A
Library which serves the prisoner in educational needs is called prisoner libraries.
A prisoner or offender usually a man, who committed sin intentionally or
unintentionally. Law enforcement agencies have established libraries across the
world. The sole purpose of these libraries is to educate the inmates.
Several reforms have been brought in prisons worldwide. In many states, heavy
budget have been spent in law and justice reforms to reduce crimes. A lush green
lawn, rich libraries, medical centres, educational institutions, vocational training
have been made part of prisons, but in Pakistan, the prison system is cumbersome
and outmoded and present a sorry state of affairs. Prison education involves
vocational training or academic education supplied to prisoners as part of their
rehabilitation and preparation for life outside prison. To educate prisoners means
to reduce crime ratio in broader sense.
Pakistan journal of criminology, reported that there are 99 jails in Pakistan, Sindh
province has 23, Punjab province has 22, KPK 11, Balochistan 6, however, GilgitBaltistan and AJK have 11 prisons respectively. In Pakistan, the prison system is
suffering from multiple maladies; the most obvious in my view are (1) abundantly
overcrowded(2) all criminals are resided at one place like terrorists, petty criminal,
serious offenders and political convicts, habitual offenders etc.(3) Unwarranted
physical punishment is frequently inflicted on the prisoners (4) Medical facilities
available in our prisons are deplorable (5) and the last but not the least lack of
Libraries.
As per the rule 979 of jail manual, an illiterate prisoner may be imparted education
upto primary level. However, for all aspirants, who wishes for higher studies,
ought to be provided educational facilities like study centres and well-furnished
library in jail premises, where one can read books, journals, magazines and
newspapers etc. Remission to prisoners will also be granted by qualifying final
exams as per the rule 215.
Currently, there is no organized system for imparting a proper education in our
prisons. Prime Minister Imran Khan with the help of law and justice reform may
improve our prison system in facilitating the general as well as vocational and
technical education to all prisoners. Each prison should have a well-stocked library
with books, journals, magazines, newspapers and audio visual material for
prisoners. People may also help them donate books to prison libraries. Public and
private sector institutions ought to be solicited to establish distance learning and
exam centres on jail premises. Education Ministry should be approached to
manage courses through correspondence for the jail inmates.
—The writer is working as Library Officer in Institute of Strategic Studies, a
think-think based in Islamabad.